ENJOY YOUR LIFE!

What a gift life is! These past few weeks have been a complete whirlwind of an exciting transition. My husband and I recently bought our first house and we have been enjoying the process of making it our own. I have been looking so forward to this moment right now. I could not wait to have the day off work so I could relax and reflect on what the last two weeks have held.

Moving is no joke. There’s boxes to be packed, utilities to be transferred, walls to be painted, and what I like to call “organized chaos.” As busy as our move was, I could not have enjoyed it more. I wasn’t only excited at the fact that we were moving into our first home, I was excited that my husband and I have reached a milestone after many years of school, hard work and trying to stay obedient to what the Lord had planned for us. I saw this house as a new beginning for what the Lord has in store.

This house has challenged me in many ways as well. I have had to constantly tell myself to “Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.” -Colossians 3:2 I can get overly excited about lots of things! One thing I noticed is that excitement about earthly things, without the constant relationship with the Lord is not ultimately fulfilling. Painting a wall may give me a sense of accomplishment, but it has not satisfied the desire of my heart.

Throughout the “organized chaos” of the move, I was reaching for time with the Lord, which I often did not get. There were times where I would feel overwhelmed even though the bussiness of my days consisted of things I was very passionate about. It was then I realized that I could go through life enjoying our new house with my family and all the blessings the Lord gave us, but without spending time with the Lord and being in his presence, none of it meant a thing.

In this very season I am enjoying life! I cannot get enough of it. But the thing is, life is not anywhere near easy. Life is hard, messy and at times exhausting. We can’t wait for things to be perfect before we start enjoying life. In the moments where I feel like I’m not sure how I’m going to get through the next thing, I hear the Lord tell me “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” Philippians 4:6.

Knowing I do not need to keep the weight of this world on my shoulders and that I can give my anxiousness and fear over to the Lord is so freeing. The Lord knows the plans he has for me. Whatever His plans are for my life are exactly where I want to be. Easier said than done, yes. At times I feel like I know exactly what it is I want my life to look like. The Lord continues to whisper “patience Jen.” I have challenged myself to find joy in each moment, to focus on the now and plan for the future. Let’s be honest, the plan the Lord had for my life up until this point was not anywhere near what I would have drawn up for myself, but I’m beyond grateful he brought me to this place. I’m so thankful he is in control and I am not or I would be in a mess.

The Lord tells us, “I recommend having fun, because there is nothing better for people in this world than to eat, drink, and enjoy life. That way they will experience some happiness along with all the hard work God gives them under the sun.” - Ecclesiastes 8:15.

Enjoy your life! You only have one. Maybe at this point you find yourself struggling to enjoy each day. Reflect on where your heart lies. Are you living for God’s glory or your own? Take the challenge with me to focus on God’s plan for your life instead of your own. Trust me, there will be ups and downs. Some day’s it’s easier to depict God’s voice than others and there will be times where it will be hard to deny your own desires. But at the end of the day, we can be thankful we stayed obedient and kingdom minded.

CHALLENGE

How can you change your mindset to focus on God’s plan rather than your own?

Have fun this week!

Pray on the following scriptures:

Ecclesiastes 2:24

Luke 1:47

John 16:33

Matthew 6:25-34